F.A.Q.

Ordering

No. Please return the card with 1 blank quadrant. We do not offer refunds for unused tests. Never tamper with the card by cutting it.

You can order on our website by creating an account. You can also visit one of our retail partners in your region.

No. As long as you keep your cards clean and dry they will last for multiple years.

PRO TIP: Buy cards before you germinate seeds! This allows you to test at the earliest stage possible, saving you maximum time, money, space, and resources.

We’ll ship your paid order within 1-2 business days (M-F). Please contact us immediately at 503-206-6599 EXT 1 if you have questions about your shipping details.

Collection

Be sure to read the instruction card included in your kit carefully before beginning to collect samples. Contact us at 503-206-6599 EXT 1 or support@phylos.bio for questions about collecting samples. Please reference the sample collection videos below depending upon the Plant Sex Test product you are using:

Back at the lab, we extract DNA from your sample collection cards and use qPCR analysis to identify the Y chromosome. All cannabis plants have an XX or XY combination, indicating a female or male plant at a genetic level.

There are a number of reasons. 1) Taking a sample from a cotyledon leaf is the fastest way to identify the gender of your seedlings. 2) There is no THC in cotyledon leaves making samples legal to send in the mail. Our tests were designed to be in compliance with the Controlled Substances Act.

Each country has different laws and regulations about buying products from other countries. Before you place your order, please be sure of your local customs laws concerning the shipment. It is your responsibility to know what is legal in your country and what is not.

No. You must purchase kits and prepare your samples following the instructions included in your kits. For large orders, Phylos will offer training to your staff including how to organize your plants for sampling, and best practices for collection, shipping, and viewing results. Call us at 503-206-6599 EXT 1 to place a large order and schedule a training session.

No. We do not accept any plant material at our facility. All samples must be prepared using our collection kits prior to submission.

Shipping Samples

Please mail to: 959 SE Division St, Suite 420, Portland, OR 97214

NOTE: Our lab is closed on weekends, so plan for your samples to arrive on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid weekend gaps.

Yes! International shipping times vary by carrier and destination. Standard international shipping typically takes 5-10 business days to reach your country and then must clear customs (timeline varies by country).

Expedited shipping options are available upon request for an additional fee.

You are responsible for any VAT, tariff, duty, taxes, handling fees, customs clearance charges, etc. required by your country for importing consumer goods. We do not collect this beforehand, and cannot give you an estimate of the cost - charges vary around the world.

Yes. We designed our collection methods to be legal to send across state lines. Our kits are designed to collect a DNA smear from cotyledon leaves, which means there’s no THC and no plant tissue.

NOTE: Our lab is closed on weekends, so plan for your samples to arrive on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid weekend gaps.

Results

No. The price of the test includes the sample collection kit, testing, and results.

Results will be available within two business days of the lab receiving your samples. During our peak season (March-May), results may be delayed due to high volume. You can track the status of your order within your Phylos account or call us at 503-206-6599 EXT 1.

You can access results and track the status of orders within your Phylos account.

No. The Plant Sex Test and Phylos Certified Genotype Test use different processing methods and have separate sample collection kits.

General Questions

Our test saves growers time and money because we can identify plant sex just 7 days after germination, before transplanting. No need for a flip room or to spend resources on unwanted plants. Plus, it removes the risk of an unnoticed male plant accidentally pollinating your entire crop.

No. It is widely accepted that plants “flip” when exposed to environmental stresses, such as high temperatures, light leaks, and nutrient deficiencies. Always keep a close eye on your plants and keep plant stakes with your plants until flowering for quality control purposes.

Cannabis is a dioecious plant, meaning the male and female reproductive organs are on separate individual plants. Cannabis is unique in that female plants when stressed can develop functional male flowers. Because these flowers were generated on a female plant they do not posses the y-chromosome and as such do not contain all male specific DNA. Instead these hermaphrodite plants are simply pollinating a female flower with genetically female pollen. The Phylos Sex Test genetically differentiates male from female but is not able to identify if a plant will be a hermaphrodite or not as hermaphrodites are genetically female.

Remove the plant immediately. If you think you may have mixed up samples, contact us at quality@phylos.bio or 503-206-6599 EXT. 3 to inquire about a retest. Always keep plant stakes with your plants until harvest.